Synonyms of peaceful

peaceful

adjective

ˈpēs-fəl 

1

as in pacific

inclined to live in peace and to avoid war

a peaceful tribe that had quietly inhabited these shores for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pacific
• pacifist
• peaceable
• neutral
• serene
• quiet
• benevolent
• tranquil
• calm
• dovish
• nonaggressive
• mild
• gentle
• relaxed
• amiable
• kind
• unwarlike
• nonbelligerent
• irenic
• unaggressive
• amicable
• noncombative
• antiwar
• submissive
• affable
• kindly
• antimilitarist
• antimilitaristic
• genial
• antiviolence
• yielding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warlike
• martial
• bloodthirsty
• hawkish
• militaristic
• aggressive
• belligerent
• militarist
• hostile
• combative
• contentious
• pugnacious
• bellicose
• quarrelsome
• discordant
• antagonistic
• scrappy
• truculent
• fierce
• argumentative
• gladiatorial
• hot-tempered

2

as in nonviolent

not involving violence or force

UN officials struggled to find a peaceful solution to the troublesome conflict

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nonviolent
• peaceable
• calming
• soothing
• quieting
• pacific
• conciliatory
• irenic
• nonbelligerent
• unassertive
• bloodless
• unaggressive
• peacemaking
• conciliating
• appeasing
• mollifying
• placating
• pacifying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• violent
• military
• armed
• warlike
• militant
• martial
• aggressive
• forced
• hostile
• belligerent
• assertive
• contentious
• antagonistic
• fierce
• combative
• volcanic
• argumentative
• quarrelsome
• bellicose
• gladiatorial
• tempestuous

3

as in quiet

free from disturbing noise or uproar

a peaceful house, now that the kids are all grown and departed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quiet
• serene
• restful
• placid
• tranquil
• calm
• hushed
• quieted
• silent
• still
• arcadian
• noiseless
• soft
• stilly
• soundless
• motionless
• quiescent
• mute
• wordless
• gentle
• speechless
• muted
• muffled
• dull
• dead
• low
• ultraquiet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loud
• boisterous
• noisy
• tumultuous
• raucous
• rowdy
• clamorous
• unquiet
• deafening
• uproarious
• woolly
• wild
• romping
• roistering
• crazy
• tempestuous
• rip-roaring
• clattery
• thunderous
• booming
• roaring
• piercing
• thundering
• blasting
• earsplitting
• blaring

4

as in tranquil

free from storms or physical disturbance

a peaceful lake

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tranquil
• quiet
• serene
• placid
• calm
• hushed
• still
• untroubled
• sunny
• gentle
• halcyon
• clear
• lown
• mild
• temperate
• equable
• moderate
• stilly
• balmy
• clement
• cloudless
• sunshiny
• windless
• rainless
• fair

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• angry
• turbulent
• restless
• rough
• unsettled
• stormy
• agitated
• tempestuous
• unquiet
• inclement
• windy
• extreme
• blustery
• severe
• foul
• intemperate
• nasty
• blizzardy
• squally

5

as in serene

free from emotional or mental agitation

the patient is peaceful and resting comfortably

Synonyms & Similar Words

• serene
• calm
• tranquil
• composed
• collected
• placid
• smooth
• undisturbed
• possessed
• at peace
• unperturbed
• unruffled
• untroubled
• confident
• sedate
• steady
• cool
• unworried
• limpid
• unshaken
• together
• relaxed
• centered
• level
• equal
• mellow
• recollected
• self-possessed
• relieved
• coolheaded
• self-composed
• nonchalant
• well-balanced
• detached
• equable
• imperturbable
• carefree
• unflappable
• unshakable
• easygoing
• sober
• well-adjusted
• disciplined
• dispassionate
• unconcerned
• breezy
• even-keeled
• affable
• even
• laid-back
• nerveless
• aloof
• assured
• self-contained
• tranquilized
• phlegmatic
• indifferent
• impassive
• bovine
• stolid
• self-controlled
• happy-go-lucky
• self-assured
• loosey-goosey
• devil-may-care

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disturbed
• upset
• agitated
• perturbed
• anxious
• uneasy
• unsettled
• distressed
• nervous
• worried
• bothered
• restless
• unstrung
• unquiet
• tense
• unhinged
• flustered
• unstable
• jumpy
• unglued
• jittery
• discomposed
• skittish
• uptight
• high-strung

Synonym Chooser

How is the word peaceful different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of peaceful are calm, placid, serene, and tranquil. While all these words mean "quiet and free from disturbance," peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

In what contexts can calm take the place of peaceful?

The synonyms calm and peaceful are sometimes interchangeable, but calm often implies a contrast with a foregoing or nearby state of agitation or violence.

the protests ended, and the streets were calm again

When could placid be used to replace peaceful?

In some situations, the words placid and peaceful are roughly equivalent. However, placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

When would serene be a good substitute for peaceful?

The words serene and peaceful can be used in similar contexts, but serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

When can tranquil be used instead of peaceful?

Although the words tranquil and peaceful have much in common, tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of peaceful

The alternative is for today’s AI empires to attempt, as their Cold War predecessors did half a century ago, what Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev called peaceful coexistence and American statesmen preferred to call détente. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026

The unrest came on the heels of an anti-government movement that had seen days of largely peaceful protests over rising living costs and poor school conditions. — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, anti-riot police have been accused of unnecessary force against peaceful protesters. — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, the majority of peaceful protesters joined a march that moved toward northwestern Paris. — Sylvie Corbet, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026